An exhibition at Guido W. Baudach Gallery opens at that tentative period in between the old and the new years.It’s a time of reflection on the past and wishful thinking about the future. In that spirit, the show looks at the millennial period in Berlin and showcases a selection of art created in Germany’s capital.Markus Selg’s “Rendezvous (Ersatz)” (2000, digital print, collage on paper), echoes the Futurist movement of the beginning of the 20th century and develops its ideas to match a new era. The figures it portrays have robotic features, composed of shiny, metallic elements.In contrast to Selg’s futuristic vision, Thomas Helbig finds inspiration for “Ikone” (2001-2002, oil on canvas) in traditional folklore. The painting shows a figure in a black veil, turned away from the viewer. The religious message for the 21st century seems to be one of isolation and suspended belief.The artists at the exhibition are also interested in capturing the ever fleeting present moment.Erwin Kneihsl’s black-and-white photographs render the atmosphere of Berlin’s artistic life at the turn of the century, immortalized in an impressive book titled “Alexanderplatz” (1999, gelatin silver print, collage).The era’s contradictions are brought to life in the photos – in one example a pornographic image is juxtaposed with shots of a nationalistic demonstration.“Turn of a Century” deals with a fairly recent period in history without becoming shrouded in sentimentality. The artworks portray a deeply divided world, uncertain of its future.“Turn of a Century” runs at Guido W. Baudach Gallery through December 19, 2015.
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